Flying internationally can be an exciting time for tourists and casual travelers, but for diplomats and businessmen, it can be quite the hassle. Going from a connecting flight domestically can be difficult as it is, so the amount of pressure international travelers go through is much higher.
As a way to significantly alleviate one to two hours waiting in line to deal with immigration processes, some American passengers will be able to scan their passport into an automated passport control (APC) stand, allowing them to get into the country faster.
Though APC kiosks are fairly new in the United States, Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare and New York's JFK international airport has them, and they have shown great success so far. O'Hare specifically began its launch in July and found that wait times decreased by 40 percent for U.S. citizens, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told the Business Travel News.
The business process software "removes the administrative responsibility for a CBP officer to scan a traveler's passport and verify their paper customs declaration, reducing the time a traveler spends with a CBP officer," a CBP official added.
How India plans on implementing APC at their airports
Across the world, India is planning on launching a similar boarding system for their citizens. India is one of the most populous nations in the world, so any alternative to expedite travel time can benefit work efficiency for airports and those who have business arrangements in India.
What makes this program different from the U.S.' ADP program is that India security officials are creating a list of trusted travelers who would not need to provide immigration paperwork to an international officer because it will already be electronically filed, the Indian Express reported.
"A pre-authorization will not only reduce hassles at the airport but will also not require a traveler to go through immigration checks," a senior home ministry official told the source. "We are also planning to include biometric details of travelers, which will mean facial recognition or finger prints, in e-gate."
Priority will be given to diplomats then frequent fliers who visit the nation. The cost to enroll in the program has not been decided because officials are unsure if this will be a one-time fee, or a fee per trip.
Electronic processes can greatly impact how a business completes daily tasks. If immigration can find a way to handle passports faster, then international travel may not longer appear as daunting.
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